AMERICAS - The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA) has come to an agreement with the Elliott-Lewis Corporation to eliminate, effective 1 July 1, 2012, the eight per cent labour management fee that has been charged to customers for supplying unionised labour services at the convention centre.

The PCCA hopes eliminating the eight per cent fee will be “an initial step in the transition to a new business model that will greatly assist in lowering labour costs at the PCCA and help to attract new business to the convention centre”.

The PCCA Board has been working with Elliott-Lewis, its labour supplier, to review policies. A Board statement said, in part: “Every person working in the facility, including PCCA management staff, union workers, and vendors, has the responsibility for ensuring a memorable visitor experience. Hospitality training becomes a requirement for every person working in the building. Full billing transparency is an additional major procedural change.

“The elimination of the eight per cent fee is in the best interest of the customer and will make the Pennsylvania Convention Center, now larger, much more competitive so more planners choose to meet here and, just as important, choose to return,” added PCCA Chairman of the Board Gregory J. Fox.

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